Yale Football Blog

Major Taylor – DL

6’1″, 240 lbs. | Irmo, SC

Taylor is a compact, versatile front-seven defender with alignment flexibility as a hand-in-the-dirt edge or stand-up outside linebacker. Shows good first-step quickness, active hands, and a functional swim move to soften the edge and create pocket disruption. Carries enough play strength to take on contact, anchor versus the run, and work through double teams. Displays disciplined eyes and gap integrity with the competitive temperament to hold the point of attack.

Malachi Igharo – DB

6’2″, 190 lbs. | Dripping Springs, TX

Igharo has the height, length, and frame coaches look for on the perimeter. Smooth mover with a controlled pedal, clean transition ability, and the route awareness to stay connected through the play. Comfortable in press-man looks and shows the feet and patience to mirror without panicking. Reliable tackler in support with natural ball skills and the return instincts to turn takeaways into field-position swings.

Andruw Gist – DB

6’1″, 185 lbs. | Suwanee, GA

Gist is a physical, tone-setting safety with downhill trigger and strong run-support temperament. Plays with range, urgency, and lateral quickness to close from depth and chase plays across the field. Times contact well at the catch point and brings enough striking ability to separate receivers from the football. Shows solid coverage instincts, keeps the game in front of him, and profiles as a dependable back-end defender with enforcer traits.

Jalaal Abdullah – DB

6’1″, 175 lbs. | Frisco, TX

Abdullah projects as a rangy free safety with true center-field traits. Shows the long speed to overlap routes, erase space, and close throwing windows once he keys the quarterback. Plays with good anticipation and ball-hawking instincts, consistently looking to create takeaways rather than simply finish the rep. Also flashes dependable open-field tackling ability and the pursuit speed to defeat angles on perimeter plays.

Liam Marley – DL

6’2″, 260 lbs. | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Marley is a high-motor interior defensive lineman with disruptive first-step quickness and heavy contact strength. Plays with natural leverage, low pads, and enough length to lock out blockers, shed, and work across the face of interior linemen. Shows the ability to split or slip double teams and offers rush flexibility with both inside and outside counters. Brings a finishing temperament at the point of attack and consistently runs through contact.

Callum Schweitzer – QB
6’1″, 200 lbs. | Los Gatos, CA

Compact, well-built quarterback with the toughness and athleticism to extend plays. Comfortable operating from the pocket but is equally effective rolling outside to create throwing lanes. Displays good escapability, using strength and balance to shrug off would-be tacklers while keeping his eyes downfield. Shows confidence attacking all levels of the defense, particularly on vertical throws over the middle and outside the numbers. Competitive signal caller who can hurt defenses with both his arm and mobility.

Brayden Knight – QB
6’4″, 195 lbs. | Concord, CA

Prototype frame with the pedigree of De La Salle’s nationally respected program. Possesses a live arm capable of delivering the football with velocity to every area of the field. Athletic enough to escape pressure and make plays outside the pocket, showing natural instincts as an open-field runner. Processes quickly and gets the ball out efficiently to maximize playmakers in space while maintaining the ability to stretch defenses vertically. Held an offer from Hawaii and projects as a high-upside dual-threat quarterback.

Evan Morton – WR
6’1″, 190 lbs. | Sandy, UT

Physical receiver who combines balance, strength, and acceleration into a complete skill set. Consistently plucks the football cleanly without sacrificing speed through the catch point. Shows the burst to separate vertically and get behind opposing secondaries while routinely breaking the initial tackle after the reception. Brings added value as a willing and effective downfield blocker. Air Force offer reflects his combination of athletic ability and football toughness.

Tyler Cunningham – LB
6’1″, 220 lbs. | Paso Robles, CA

Versatile athlete whose overall football ability stands out despite not fitting the prototypical linebacker mold. Produced outstanding numbers as a running back while starring defensively at safety, demonstrating exceptional range and instincts in coverage. Recorded multiple interceptions and proved dangerous with the ball in his hands on returns. Physical at the point of attack, shedding blocks aggressively to reach ball carriers. Outstanding overall athlete whose versatility and playmaking ability project well to the linebacker position.

Brennan Wack – RB
5’11”, 200 lbs. | Wheeling, WV

Compact, powerful runner with outstanding lateral quickness and vision. Displays excellent cutback ability, slipping through congested traffic before accelerating into the open field. Runs through arm tackles with authority and possesses the burst to turn modest gains into explosive touchdown runs. Hits the hole decisively and has the long speed to outrun defensive backs once he reaches the second level. Dangerous every time he touches the football.

Jason Mathews – LB
6’2″, 225 lbs. | Southington, CT

Physical edge defender who projects as an outside linebacker with pass-rushing versatility. Played stand-up defensive end/outside linebacker at the high school level, consistently creating disruption off the edge. Closes quickly on running plays and shows a knack for delivering hits on opposing quarterbacks. Accelerates well after disengaging from blockers and pursues plays relentlessly from sideline to sideline. High-motor defender who brings toughness and consistent effort.

Vann Hopping – RB
5’10”, 215 lbs. | Austin, TX

Strong, downhill running back with an excellent blend of patience and explosiveness. Allows blocks to develop before bursting through the line with impressive acceleration. Reaches top speed quickly and has the power to run through defenders or the agility to make them miss in space. Shows sharp cuts once he reaches the second level, creating explosive plays beyond the linebackers. Also provides value as a capable receiver out of the backfield, making him a versatile offensive weapon.

To the chagrin of this board’s followers, Vicky Chun has been reappointed as Yale’s Director of Athletics for another five years. The fact that President McInnis cited Yale football’s four Ivy League championships since 2019 as the defining accomplishment of Chun’s tenure demonstrates just how flawed the administration’s evaluation was. Tom Beckett made the career-defining decision to hire Tony Reno, and with the foundation already in place before Chun arrived, virtually any competent athletic director with FCS experience could have enjoyed the same success.

For football fans, the game-day experience has been steadily diminished by needless restrictions—clear bags only, no stadium re-entry, and no strollers—while the Yale Precision Marching Band has become a shell of its former self. Meanwhile, once-proud programs such as men’s lacrosse and men’s hockey have regressed, and Princeton continues to lap Yale in overall Ivy League championships across all sports.

The administration’s decision to hire Husch Blackwell to conduct a comprehensive review of Chun’s tenure is another embarrassment. McInnis entrusted the review to a firm led not by an attorney, but by a CEO whose academic background is in marketing at Rutgers University and whose legal education consists of Harvard Law School’s Leadership in Law Firms executive education program rather than a J.D. or legal practice. For an institution that prides itself on academic rigor and legal excellence, the choice only reinforces the perception that McInnis exercised poor judgment from start to finish.

Taken together, this athletics debacle, which will burden Yale for at least another five years, an administration scrambling to resolve federal scrutiny over its admissions policies, and the Yale New Haven Health system’s rapid descent into chaos make this one of the least proud moments in recent memory to be an Eli.

In today’s ever-shifting college football landscape, there’s no telling who we’ll actually see suit up this season, but the roster is posted, so here are our first impressions:

DB room steals the show – With Kamara and Daniyan as the headliners, this has the makings of a historically great safety class. Kamara can flip a game on its head with his uncanny nose for takeaways, while Daniyan is the crafty veteran who’s almost never caught out of position. Schmidt might be the best open-field tackler in FCS. Eastep has spent his career inches away from highlight-reel plays, so this feels like the year he finally puts it all together. Webster has to clean up the penalties, but the shutdown-corner potential is immense. Barkley-Smith and White should be key corners, and don’t be shocked if a freshman or two breaks into the rotation.

LB woes continue – The slide at linebacker may not have hit bottom just yet, with Grant as the top returner and precious little depth behind him. Grant stepped up in a big way in 2025, and outside of a handful of snaps in the first half of the season, he was as reliable as you could ask for. There’s talent that could turn the tide, but it’ll take a massive summer of development to shore up the room. The hopes of the defense could rest on offseason leaps from players like Partin and Schutzman.

DL is stout – Tate is back as the big anchor at DT, with the rising Austin and Johnson equally capable of wreaking havoc up front. Jackson-Bass is set up for a great season at end, and Coleman needs only minor refinements to reach the next level after meaningful playing time as a freshman. Cave and Rivers both flashed in bursts last season. Getting Larry and Egodogbare back on top of all that would have been simply unfair to the rest of the Ancient Eight!

QB is shored up barring injury – Reno clearly cemented himself as QB1 after a solid campaign, and many weapons return around him. Depth is a major concern, but Reno proved far more durable than expected, bouncing back after absorbing some heavy blows in the playoffs.

RB will make it or break it – Recruiting and developing a star back in the shadow of a four-year all-conference player is never easy, but that’s exactly the task in front of the Bulldogs. Djeumeni Kemeni has all the physical tools but will need to sharpen his patience and vision. Adams could emerge as the primary option, though the injury history looms. Pandolfi remains unproven, and the rest of the room is freshmen.

TE is the moneymaker – Blocking production will take a hit with Mermans transferring out, but the return of Smith and Wagner gives Reno credible downfield targets. The extra time to gel with Reno should pay off most for a player like Wagner, who always seemed to be laying out in hopes of a miraculous catch in 2025.

OL must plug a few holes – Lewis leads the returners up front after an Honorable-Mention All-Ivy season at guard in 2025. McGown was thrown into the fire as a freshman at tackle and held his own. St. Aubyn started at tackle in 2024 as a sophomore, and expectations were high for his continued climb before injuries derailed his 2025 campaign. Anderson arrived with plenty of recruiting buzz and could fill the role vacated by Charron, while Garrity banked valuable experience at center spelling Bluhm at times. If neither McGown nor St. Aubyn can slide over to right tackle, the window could open for someone like Hoey, who backed up Bennett last season.

Wideouts will continue to impress – Santiago went down with an ugly injury in the playoffs, but if he can get back to his old self, opposing defensive backs will not fare well in one-on-one matchups. Anderson looked like a seasoned veteran during the playoff run and brings even more deep-threat juice than Santiago. Maltarich and Tattersall both seem primed for big seasons, and you know Tattersall would love nothing more than to one-up his brother at Harvard. It sounded as though Kemp would not return based on an interview with Mason Shipp, but he remains listed on the roster and would be a crucial addition. After Nico Brown’s explosive 2025 season, fans are curious what other hidden gems the Bulldogs have kept on the sidelines.

No concerns with Specialists – With Piper back at kicker, Keeney back at punter, and Fornter back as the long snapper, the Bulldogs should enjoy an immediate special-teams edge over most opponents.

Class of 2030 breakdown to follow soon!

September 19th – at Holy Cross

September 26th – at Cornell

October 3rd – vs. Merrimack

October 10th – vs. Dartmouth

October 17th – vs. Rhode Island

October 24th – at Penn

October 31st- at Columbia

November 7th – vs. Brown

November 14th – vs. Princeton

November 21st – at Harvard (Fenway)

Devastating news emerged just days ago that Coach Reno is battling CJD, a fatal neurodegenerative disease that typically leads to death in under 14 months. Please donate at the following link to support the Reno family through this difficult time: *Reno Family Support – Fundraiser by Friends Of Tony Reno and Family on *spotfund

Spring Game #1 – Saturday, April 11th, 11 AM

Spring Game #2 – Saturday, April 18th, 11 AM

Transfer Destinations

Nico Brown – Stanford

Michael Bennett – Oregon

Spencer Mermans – Georgia Tech

Wilhelm Daal – Duke

Leo Bluhm – Rice

Ezekiel Larry – Virginia

Ejiroghene Egodogbare – Houston

Mason Shipp – Austin Peay

Pitsenberger Pro Day Results

40-Yard Dash: 4.64 seconds

Bench Press: 20 reps of 225 lbs.

Vertical Leap: 35.0 inches

Broad Jump: 9.7 feet

Shuttle Drill: 4.12 seconds

3-Cone Drill: 6.94 seconds

Jalaal Abdullah, DB, 6’1”, 175 lbs., Frisco, TX

Ethan Washington, DB, 6’1”, 175 lbs., Missouri City, TX

Evan Morton, WR, 6’0”, 185 lbs., Sandy, UT

Marques Council Jr., QB, 6’2”, 191 lbs., Aliquippa, PA

Tyler Cunningham, WR, 6’2”, 205 lbs., Templeton, CA

Hale Rikkers, OL, 6’6”, 260 lbs., Madison, WI

Cooke Riney, TE, 6’6”, 245 lbs., Middlebury, VT

Atticus Snow, DL, 6’3”, 245 lbs., Longmeadow, MA

Liam Marley, DL, 6’3”, 255 lbs., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Jason Mathews, LB, 6’2”, 206 lbs., Southington, CT

Major Taylor, DL, 6’2”, 230 lbs., Irmo, NC

Jordan Ohakawa, DL, 6’2”, 276 lbs., Sugar Land, TX

Dylan Liner, WR, 6’2”, 200 lbs., Naperville, IL

Jamel Dew, DL, 6’3”, 230 lbs., Ypsilanti, MI

Malachi Igharo, DB, 6’3”, 180 lbs., Dripping Springs, TX

Callum Schweitzer, QB, 6’2″, 200 lbs., Los Gatos, CA

Vann Hopping, RB, 5’10”, 210 lbs., Austin, TX

Chris Layman, OL, 6’4”, 285 lbs., Arlington, VA

Elijah Brown, OL, 6’4”, 265 lbs., San Antonio, TX

Brayden Knight, QB, 6’3”, 195 lbs., Concord, CA

Brennan Wack, RB, 6’0”, 200 lbs., Wheeling, WV

Lucas Fickel, RB, 6’0”, 210 lbs., Lewis Center, OH

Let us know who we are missing!

The Yale Bulldogs fell to the Montana State Bobcats in the second round of the FCS Playoffs in a 13-21 slugfest in Bozeman. Despite the loss, it was a season to remember with 7 straight victories to secure a share of the Ivy League Championship, the Ivy’s first ever playoff victory, and a thrilling ending at Montana State against the FCS’ second ranked squad. Congratulations to all of the players and coaches for their talent, hard work and dedication to the program’s success.  

Yale quickly answered concerns of whether the Bulldogs would be able to move the ball on the Bobcats’ stiff defense with Reno connecting with Brown on two fantastic plays in the opening drive. The drive would die after a Lewis false start and two blown-up plays, but did seem to provide a spark of confidence along the sidelines. Reno showed true toughness as he returned to play after two blows to the head sidelined him. In the passing game, Reno finished 20 of 35 for 198 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. One interception essentially functioned as a punt on an improbable 4th and long, while the other interception was a backbreaker inside the redzone when the Bulldogs were desperate for points. Howe’s brief appearance in relief proved to be disastrous after a deep pass over the middle was picked off by the Bobcats’ star safety. If a deep middle shot on the Big Sky’s Defensive Player of the Year was truly necessary with Reno out, it’s simply inexcusable for the coaching staff not to have McCaughey in position to attempt that. The Howe interception, Reno’s interception off a deflection in the redzone, and Reno’s miss to a wide-open Brown were three crushing blows to the offense on Saturday. Two of those errors could have potentially been mitigated with perfect coaching if McCaughey had stepped in as the backup or if the offense had simply run Pitsenberger in the wildcat formation for four straight plays when the Elis had first and goal. The offensive line struggled early on against MSU’s physical front but was able to generate rushing lanes as the game progressed. Pitsenberger rushed for 124 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and a touchdown in a phenomenal cap to his Yale career, while Daal also found success with 5.4 yards per carry on 8 attempts. With Santiago sidelined with an injury, Brown’s return to the passing game was critical and he torched the Bobcats for 107 receiving yards and a touchdown. Smith, Wagner, Anderson and Stevens all made key catches on the best secondary they had faced this season. Unfortunately, the offense needed to play nearly mistake free to win this contest and MSU prevailed in the key plays to define the outcome.

The Bulldogs’ defense has been a very underrated unit across the FCS and kept Yale’s chances alive with excellent play. The Bobcats were held to just 7 points in the first half and only 14 points in the second half. 14 of MSU’s points came off Yale’s interceptions as the mistakes from the Elis shifted momentum to the home squad. Larry led Yale in tackles with 7 and also had a fumble recovery and a batted down pass. Kamara displayed his immense talents causing two fumbles, one of which the Bobcats were very fortunate to recover in the endzone for a touchdown. Grant and Ayo-Durojaiye combined for 11 tackles, while Schmidt consistently delivered hard hits on game-saving tackles. The secondary kept the Bobcats’ passing game in check with just 92 passing yards on 10 receptions. Webster, Gonzales, Tarver, Kamara, Eastep and Schmidt battled throughout the game against a very quick receiving corps. Shaber and Yang were impressive along the defensive front with clutch stops to derail drives. Montana State was able to effectively run the ball with 249 rushing yards on the afternoon for 5.9 yards per attempt, yet allowing only 21 points against a juggernaut is simply remarkable.

Piper did not attempt a field goal but was perfect on his lone PAT. Keeney averaged 42.8 yards per punt on a day filled with strong wind gusts. Tarver had a beautiful 34-yard kickoff return, while Anderson was able to secure a punt despite a vicious hit. The failed two point conversion attempt was nothing short of a blunder with the opportunity to close the gap to 7 points.

The days of happily sailing off into the sunset following a season-ending Harvard win to secure the Ivy Championship are now over, but the silver lining in the loss is that Yale (or other top Ivy teams) can compete at the highest level for a national championship.

Go Bulldogs!